U.S. patent number 8,381,244 [Application Number 11/985,143] was granted by the patent office on 2013-02-19 for content injection system and methodology.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Abacast, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Brian S. Bosworth, Michael J. King, John W. Morris, IV. Invention is credited to Brian S. Bosworth, Michael J. King, John W. Morris, IV.
United States Patent |
8,381,244 |
King , et al. |
February 19, 2013 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Content injection system and methodology
Abstract
A method, and an associated system, for sending to a first group
of recipients only the content portions of a continuity source
data-flow which takes the form of ordered, successive, alternating
content and non-content segments. From a methodologic point of
view, the invention involves, in a manner which utilizes
content-segment material buffering, delivering fully, and in
correct order, to the first recipient group the material in each
content segment, via steps including (a) bridging each gap between
next-adjacent content segments at least partially with transmitted
injection material that differs from the non-content segment
material in the gap, which injection material ends in time no
sooner than the end of the gap, and (b) employing, as needed, and
as a part of such full delivering of content-segment material,
time-progressive, time-length-variable buffering, and subsequent,
progressive buffer-delivering, of any content-segment material
which overlaps in time with the transmission of injection
material.
Inventors: |
King; Michael J. (Camas,
WA), Morris, IV; John W. (Washougal, WA), Bosworth; Brian
S. (Wheeling, WV) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
King; Michael J.
Morris, IV; John W.
Bosworth; Brian S. |
Camas
Washougal
Wheeling |
WA
WA
WV |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Abacast, Inc. (Camas,
WA)
|
Family
ID: |
39418373 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/985,143 |
Filed: |
November 13, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080120638 A1 |
May 22, 2008 |
|
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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60860573 |
Nov 21, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/32; 725/35;
705/14.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/23 (20130101); H04H 20/103 (20130101); H04H
20/24 (20130101); H04N 21/23406 (20130101); H04H
60/76 (20130101); H04N 21/812 (20130101); H04N
21/23424 (20130101); H04H 60/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
7/10 (20060101); H04N 7/025 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;725/32 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hance; Robert
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Seed IP Law Group PLLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims filing-date priority to previously filed,
currently U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/860,573,
filed Nov. 21, 2006, for "Content Injection System and
Methodology". The entire disclosure content of that provisional
patent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of operating a system including a processor and at
least one non-transitory processor-readable storage medium
communicatively coupled with the processor, the method comprising:
receiving a broadcast source data flow which is for broadcast to a
broadcast audience of a plurality of broadcast receivers, and which
comprises a plurality of content segments interspersed with a
plurality of non-content segments, the content segments consisting
of one or more sections of content material, and the non-content
segments consisting of one or more sections of non-content
material; selecting a plurality of replacement sections of
non-content material to replace one or more of the sections of
non-content material of the non-content segments; streaming as a
stream the content segments of the broadcast and a plurality of
replacement non-content segments interspersed with the content
segments for an online audience of at least a plurality of
streaming receivers; when streaming the replacement non-content
segments for the online audience, recognizing that a next one of
the content segments is going to begin in the broadcast source data
flow; in response to recognizing that the next one of the content
segments is going to begin, storing to a memory device any portions
of the next one of the content segments of the broadcast source
data flow which overlap with the replacement non-content segment
still being streamed for the online audience; for each of the
replacement non-content segments streamed, detecting an end of the
replacement non-content segment; and in response to both
recognizing that the next one of the content segments is going to
begin in the broadcast source data flow and detecting the end of
the replacement non-content segment, providing the stored portions
of the content segments from the memory device for streaming to the
streaming audience, wherein a duration of the replacement sections
of non-content material for each of the non-content segments at
least equals a duration of the respective non-content segment as
reduced by any portion of the stored content segment provided into
the respective non-content segment, and the duration of the
replacement sections of non-content material for at least one of
the non-content segments is greater than the duration of the
respective non-content segment as reduced by any portion of the
stored content segment provided into the respective non-content
segment, and wherein selecting a plurality of replacement sections
of non-content materials to replace one or more of the sections of
the non-content materials of the non-content segments includes
selecting at least one advertisement and at least one song which is
not an advertisement as the replacement sections of non-content
material to replace the sections of non-content material of one of
the non-content segments.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing the stored portions
of the content segments from the memory device for the streaming to
the streaming audience occurs while storing further portions of the
content segments to the memory device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a plurality of
replacement sections of non-content materials to replace one or
more of the sections of the non-content materials of the
non-content segments includes selecting at least two advertisements
to replace the sections of non-content material of one of the
non-content segments.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the streaming of the replacement
non-content material is started without an exact knowledge of the
duration of the respective non-content segment which the one or
more replacement sections of non-content material is replacing.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: terrestrially
broadcasting the broadcast source data flow to the plurality of
locally located broadcast receivers, and wherein the streaming
includes streaming over at least one network to the plurality of
streaming receivers at least some of which are remotely
located.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a
respective one of the non-content segments in the broadcast source
data flow; and detecting an end of a respective one of the
non-content segments of the broadcast source data flow, and
wherein: the providing the selected replacement sections of
non-content material for respective non-content segments for the
streaming to the streaming audience is in response to detecting the
start of the non-content segments, and the storing to the memory
device any portions of the content segments of the broadcast source
dataflow which overlap with the replacement non-content segment
still being streamed is in response to detecting respective ones of
the ends of the non-content segments.
7. A system, comprising: a processor; and at least one
non-transitory processor-readable storage medium communicatively
coupled with the processor which stores processor executable
instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause
the one processor to: receive a broadcast source data flow which is
for broadcast to a broadcast audience of a plurality of broadcast
receivers, and which comprises a plurality of content segments
interspersed with a plurality of non-content segments, the content
segments consisting of one or more sections of content material,
and the non-content segments consisting of one or more sections of
non-content material; select a plurality of replacement sections of
non-content material to replace one or more of the sections of
non-content material of the non-content segments; stream as a
stream the content segments of the broadcast and a plurality of
replacement non-content segments interspersed with the content
segments for an online audience of at least a plurality of
streaming receivers; recognize that a next one of the content
segments is going to begin in the broadcast source data flow while
the replacement non-content segments are streamed for the online
audience; storing to a memory device any portions of the next one
of the content segments of the broadcast source data flow which
overlap with the replacement non-content segment still being
streamed for the online audience in response to recognizing that
the next one of the content segments is going to begin; for each of
the replacement content segments streamed, detect an end of the
replacement content segment; and in response to both recognizing
that the next one of the content segments is going to begin in the
broadcast source data flow and detecting the end of the replacement
non-content segment, providing the stored portions of the content
segments from the memory device for streaming to the streaming
audience, wherein a duration of the replacement sections of
non-content material for each of the non-content segments at least
equals a duration of the respective non-content segment as reduced
by any portion of the stored content segment provided into the
respective non-content segment, and the duration of the replacement
sections of non-content material for at least one of the
non-content segments is greater than the duration of the respective
non-content segment as reduced by any portion of the stored content
segment provided into the respective non-content segment, and
wherein selection of a plurality of replacement sections of
non-content materials to replace one or more of the sections of the
non-content materials of the non-content segments includes
selection of at least one advertisement and at least one song which
is not an advertisement as the replacement sections of non-content
material to replace the sections of non-content material of one of
the non-content segments.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the provision of the stored
portions of the content segments from the memory device for the
streaming to the streaming audience occurs while storing further
portions of the content segments to the memory device.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein selection of a plurality of
replacement sections of non-content materials to replace one or
more of the sections of the non-content materials of the
non-content segments includes selection of at least two
advertisements to replace the sections of non-content material of
one of the non-content segments.
10. The system of claim 7 wherein the instructions cause the
processor to start to stream the replacement non-content material
without an exact knowledge of the duration of the respective
non-content segment which the replacement sections of non-content
material replaces.
11. The system of claim 7, further comprising: a transmitter
operable to terrestrially broadcast the broadcast source data flow
to the plurality of locally located broadcast receivers, and
wherein the streaming includes a transmission over at least one
network to the plurality of streaming receivers at least some of
which are remotely located.
12. The system of claim 7 wherein the instructions further cause
the processor to: detect a respective one of the non-content
segments in the broadcast source data flow; detect an end of a
respective one of the non-content segments of the broadcast source
data flow, and wherein: the selected replacement sections of
non-content material for respective non-content segments are
provided for the streaming to the streaming audience in response to
detection of the start of the non-content segments, and any
portions of the content segments of the broadcast source dataflow
which overlap with the replacement non-content segment still being
streamed are stored to the memory device in response to detection
of respective ones of the ends of the non-content segments.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores processor
executable instructions which when executed by a processor causes
the processor to operate a system, by: receiving a broadcast source
data flow which is for broadcast to a broadcast audience of a
plurality of broadcast receivers, and which comprises a plurality
of content segments interspersed with a plurality of non-content
segments, the content segments consisting of one or more sections
of content material, and the non-content segments consisting of one
or more sections of non-content material; selecting a plurality of
replacement sections of non-content material to replace one or more
of the sections of non-content material of the non-content
segments; streaming as a stream the content segments of the
broadcast and a plurality of replacement non-content segments
interspersed with the content segments for an online audience of at
least a plurality of streaming receivers; when streaming the
replacement non-content segments for the online audience,
recognizing that a next one of the content segments is going to
begin in the broadcast source data flow; in response to recognizing
that the next one of the content segments is going to begin,
storing to a memory device any portions of the next one of the
content segments of the broadcast source data flow which overlap
with the replacement non-content segment still being streamed for
the online audience; for each of the replacement non-content
segments streamed, detecting an end of the replacement non-content
segment; and in response to both recognizing that the next one of
the content segments is going to begin in the broadcast source data
flow and detecting the end of the replacement non-content segment,
providing the stored portions of the content segments from the
memory device for streaming to the streaming audience, and wherein
a duration of the replacement sections of non-content material for
each of the non-content segments at least equals a duration of the
respective non-content segment as reduced by any portion of the
stored content segment provided into the respective non-content
segment, and the duration of the replacement sections of
non-content material for at least one of the non-content segments
is greater than the duration of the respective non-content segment
as reduced by any portion of the stored content segment provided
into the respective non-content segment, and wherein selecting a
plurality of replacement sections of non-content materials to
replace one or more of the sections of the non-content materials of
the non-content segments includes selecting at least one
advertisement and at least one song which is not an advertisement
as the replacement sections of non-content material to replace the
sections of non-content material of one of the non-content
segments.
14. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein
the providing the stored portions of the content segments from the
memory device for the streaming to the streaming audience occurs
while storing further portions of the content segments to the
memory device.
15. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein
selecting a plurality of replacement sections of non-content
materials to replace one or more of the sections of the non-content
materials of the non-content segments includes selecting at least
two advertisements to replace the sections of non-content material
of one of the non-content segments.
16. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein
the streaming of the replacement non-content material is started
without an exact knowledge of the duration of the respective
non-content segment which the one or more replacement sections of
non-content material is replacing.
17. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein
the instruction cause the processor to operate the system, further
by: terrestrially broadcasting the broadcast source data flow to
the plurality of locally located broadcast receivers, and wherein
the streaming includes streaming over at least one network to the
plurality of streaming receivers at least some of which are
remotely located.
18. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein
the instruction cause the processor to operate the system, further
by: detecting a start of a respective one of the non-content
segments in the broadcast source data flow; and detecting an end of
a respective one of the non-content segments of the broadcast
source data flow, and wherein: the providing the selected
replacement sections of non-content material for respective
non-content segments for the streaming to the streaming audience is
in response to detecting the start of the non-content segments, and
the storing to the memory device any portions of the content
segments of the broadcast source dataflow which overlap with the
replacement non-content segment still being streamed is in response
to detecting respective ones of the ends of the non-content
segments.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to a content injection system and
methodology associated with delivering, differently to different
audiences, or audience groups, of a "source" data flow
characterized by an alternating series of what we refer to herein
as content and non-content segments. It should be understood that
in the implementation and practice of the invention, different
kinds of such source data may be handled, such as audio data and
video data. Generally speaking we apply the term "content", as
associated with such data, to refer to the principal, or central,
programming material/segments contained therein, and we use the
term "non-content" to refer to segments of data that lie between
content segments--typically taking the form of certain kinds of
advertising (ad break) material.
For the purpose of illustration herein, the invention is described
in the context of a broadcast radio station which delivers a source
broadcast flow of audio data/information to two different kinds of
audience groups, including what will be referred to as being a
"broadcast" audience, and as an on-line "streaming audience". In
other language employed in this document, the on-line streaming
audience is referred to as a first group of recipients, and the
broadcast audience as a second group of recipients.
Using such a station audio-broadcast context for illustration
purposes, as mentioned, this invention focuses attention on a
practice involving periodically separating the broadcast and
streaming audiences in order to account for, and deal effectively
with, the presence, in the source broadcast-data flow, of certain
"non-streamable content"--i.e., its non-content segments. For
example, for reasons of cost, and/or because of certain controlling
rules and/or regulations, etc., some kinds of advertising content
which are permissibly "broadcastable" to a broadcast audience are
not permissibly "streamable" to a streaming audience. Put another
way, the properly broadcastable data flow contains both types of
segments (i.e., content and non-content segments, as mentioned
above), whereas the streamable data flow is allowed to contain
only, from such a source broadcast data flow, the content-segment
portions thereof.
Accordingly, and because of the fact that such non-streamable
content material resides naturally within a source broadcast flow
of data of the type described, something needs to be done to assure
a high-quality, non-disruptive flow of information to the streaming
audience which effectively "side-steps" the non-streamable (i.e.,
non-content) segment material. Regarding such "side-stepping" it is
important that, in the context now being generally described, a
streaming audience ultimately receive, in as timely a fashion as
possible, and fully, the same, streamable (i.e., content-segment)
broadcast material as does a broadcast audience, without receiving
the non-streamable content material, and without experiencing
distracting, unnatural gaps in ultimate reception of the
appropriately streaming content-segment material.
The proposed "side-stepping" behavior of the present invention
avoids the presence of such an unnatural distraction (a) by
injecting into the otherwise gapped flow of streamable content
material, selected, alternate (or alternative), permissibly
streamable material (referred to variously herein as injection
material, and as injection-content material) which masks the
broadcast flow of non-streamable, non-content material, and (b) by
using a variable-time-size, time-displacing buffer which operates,
as will be fully explained below, to capture, for later, seamless
streaming output to the streaming audience, all appropriately
streamable content-segment material time-spans which have become
"masked" because of the occurrences of duration overlaps that will
naturally take place in relation to injection of the
just-above-mentioned injection-content material. Such injection
takes place during what we refer to herein as an injection time
period. In many instances, and as will be seen, material delivered
to a streaming audience during such an injection time period will
begin with the delivery from the mentioned buffer of any
then-buffered (i.e., previously buffered) content-segment material.
Alternative injection material may typically take the forms, for
example, of alternative advertising material which is suitable for
delivery for the streaming audience, and music, such as songs. In
general terms, here is how this unique practice of the present
invention works.
When a non-streamable advertisement begins (an ad break) in the
broadcast data flow, a trigger/control signal is generated by the
system and practice of this invention to cause, effectively, a
data-flow separation to take place between the broadcast audience
and the streaming audience. With this separation place, and
following the then delivery to the streaming audience (from the
mentioned buffer) of any previously buffered content-segment
material, alternative content, coming from what we refer to as an
alternative (or injection) content repository managed by the
relevant radio station, is injected into the streaming data flow to
cover, along with the delivered buffered material. Alternative
injection material is delivered at least for a length of time
extending to when, again, streamable broadcast content resumes in
the broadcast-data flow. Often, such injection-content material
will extend in time in a manner producing a modest time overlap
with the resumption of content-material broadcasting, and in such
an "overlap" circumstance, content-segment data buffering begins in
accordance with practice of the invention to deal fully with such
an overlap. This injection activity seamlessly bridges, for the
streaming audience, the time spaces between broadcast-flow
content-material segments.
In the operational context of the preferred embodiment, and manner
of practicing the methodology, of the invention, as is now being
generally described, an important feature, which is believed to be
unique, is that no effort is made regarding, and therefore no
complexity and extra cost are involved in, exactly matching the
lengths of time that ad break data is present in the source
broadcast material with the lengths of time that buffered and
alternative content materials are delivered during an injection
time period to the streaming audience. This unique practice of the
present invention is extremely advantageous, as will be recognized
by those generally skilled in the relevant art.
Accordingly, and as will be more fully explained and illustrated
herein, in most "injection modes", content injection lasts beyond
the ends of the broadcasting of the included non-streamable ad
break material. Because of this, and for at least a length of time
(as suggested immediately above) which is measured between the ends
of broadcasting of the non-streamable material segments and the
natural ends of "current" injection material still being streamed
to the streaming audience, broadcast content-segment material is
buffered in order to capture the eventually-resumed,
permissibly-streamable broadcast content data. Such time-measured
buffering continues appropriately in a manner which will be more
fully explained below.
As will be seen, the buffer which is utilized to accomplish this
buffering activity is designed to have a propensity to continue to
empty itself as expeditiously as possible. Experience with a
practical implementation of the system and methodology of the
invention has shown that the overall time span period contained at
any point in time in the employed buffer exists generally within
the range of 0-minutes to about 2-minutes. Longer periods of
buffering are, of course, possible if desired for certain
applications.
Thus, and reflecting upon the operation just generally outlined,
the streaming audience, under all circumstances, normally receives
all streamable broadcast content-segment material interleaved with
permissibly deliverable injection material, with up to a certain
modest, and variable (over time), time lag occurring related to the
receipt of the same, principal broadcast content-segment material
which is delivered to the broadcast audience. The streaming
audience, however, will not noticeably experience/appreciate this
time lag, but rather will receiving what will seem to it to be a
traditional, seamless flow of streaming data. The
broadcast-receiving audience will, of course, receive, intact and
unaltered, the full broadcast-data flow, including both the
streamable content and the non-streamable content of that flow.
These and other features and advantages which are offered by the
present invention will now become more fully apparent as the
detailed description of the invention, and of its methodology, are
described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a high-level, schematic diagram generally illustrating a
preferred and best mode embodiment of a system constructed to
operate in accordance with the methodology of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a graphical, high-level, time-flow diagram which, when
read in conjunction with the systemic view of FIG. 1, fully
describes the methodology of the present invention with reference
to specific timing illustrations of practice of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning attention now to the drawings, and referring to both FIGS.
1 and 2, these two drawing figures, when read together with the
following detailed description of the invention, fully explain the
systemic and methodologic features of the invention. With respect
to what is shown in FIG. 1, it should be understood that this
high-level drawing is simply schematically representative of the
key features that are included in the structure of the invention,
with the further understanding that there are many detailed and
conventional ways in which what is shown generally, and
schematically only, in FIG. 1 may be constructed and configured for
use in the practice of this invention. Such details, varied and
individually conventional as they are or may be, will be completely
understood by those generally skilled in the art without further
elaboration. For this reason, specific structural details of what
is shown in FIG. 1 are not set forth herein.
FIG. 1 illustrates, generally at 10, a representative
audio-broadcasting radio station which incorporates the system of
the present invention, shown generally at 12. System 12 is employed
by station 10 to deliver differently, from a broadcast source data
flow represented by block 14, to two different kinds of audiences,
including a streaming audience represented by block 16, and a
broadcast audience represented by block 18. In the practice of the
present invention, the full and unaltered broadcast data flow 14 is
delivered seamlessly to the broadcast audience. This same data
flow, however, is delivered only with respect to what are referred
to herein as its content segments through system 12 to streaming
audience 16. As has been mentioned above, system 12 functions in
several important ways, through the practice of (a) content
buffering and (b) alternative content injection, to deliver to
streaming audience 16 what will be perceived by that audience to be
a seamless delivery of information. In relation to this delivery,
the streaming audience will receive the entirety of the principal
content-segment material present in the broadcast data flow,
interleaved with alternative injection content which, as will
become more fully apparent shortly, will include alternative
injection content material, where appropriate, along with any
previously buffered content data derived from a data flow 14.
Accordingly, and in order to carry out the functionality of the
invention, system 12 includes appropriately cooperatively connected
blocks 20, 22, 24 which are disposed operatively, as illustrated,
intermediate source data flow 14 and streaming audience 16.
To the extent that structures of blocks 20, 22, 24 incorporate and
utilize hardware, firmware, software, etc., these "components"
which make up the three blocks are individually entirely
conventional in nature, may be organized to perform in accordance
with practice of the present invention in a number of different
ways within the skill levels of those generally skilled in the
relevant art, and accordingly, are not detailed herein. Put another
way, those skilled in the art, reading the schematic illustration
of FIG. 1, along with the illustrative, schematic timing
information still to be described with regard to FIG. 2, all in the
context of both the general and the detailed descriptions of the
invention herein, will readily be armed to construct and practice
the system and methodology of the present invention.
The manners of cooperative operations which take place within the
blocks representing system 12 in FIG. 1 will now become very fully
apparent as descriptions thereof are now given, augmented with
detailed timing information offered and discussed as illustrations
in the pictured timing diagram of FIG. 2.
Descriptions which now follow regarding the systemic and
methodologic behaviors of the invention will proceed on the
assumption that radio station 10 has just begun to broadcast a data
flow (source block 14) which includes alternating content and
non-content segments as described earlier herein, and begins that
broadcasting activity, for the purpose of what is illustrated in
FIG. 2, with the broadcasting specifically of content-segment
information. A further assumption is made that radio station 10, in
the mode of operation now to be described, is configured to
include, in every hour of broadcasting, two ad breaks including
non-content segment material, each of which breaks has a pre-known
time duration of 6.5-minutes. Yet another assumption which is made,
for the purpose of describing the operation of the system and
methodology of the invention as pictured in FIG. 2, is that block
22 in FIG. 1 represents a repository of available injection-content
material, or materials, of different lengths, which lengths do not
in any way match directly the 6.5-minute durations of the
non-content segments that are broadcast every hour by radio station
10. These injection-content materials include various subject
matters, including advertisement materials which are suitable for
transmission to streaming audience 16, and songs.
One further note to be made with respect to the operation now about
to be described respecting timing detail is that broadcast audience
18 is, and will be, completely unaware of the behavior of system 12
with regard to information that sent to streaming audience 16.
Broadcast audience 18 will receive the full and unaltered broadcast
data flow coming from source 14 in radio station 10.
The description which now follows of what is shown in FIG. 2 will
make evident reference to various labeling and marking which is
present in FIG. 2, and for this reason, additional reference
numerals in the description of this invention are employed only
sparsely in the content of FIG. 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, broadcasting begins with the
simulcasting, in complete timing synchrony to both the streaming
audience and the broadcast audience, at a point in time indicated
at 26 in FIG. 2. The initially broadcast material is
content-segment material which is properly streamable to streaming
audience 16. This material is delivered to streaming audience 16 by
system 12 effectively via system blocks 20, 24 which are
appropriately "set up" within the system to permit the direct,
in-time through-passage of this content information.
When the first 6.5-minute ad break come about, as is indicated by
point 28 in FIG. 2, this event is monitored by block 20 which then
produces an appropriate control/trigger signal to indicate
definitively the presence of the beginning of this break. Such a
signal immediately effects, in system 12, a dividing of the two
audiences, as generally indicated at 30 in FIG. 2, a disconnection
of any direct path between the streaming audience and source 14,
and additionally, a delivery, through the system to the streaming
audience, of alternative injection-content material from repository
22, thus to mask the forced absence (regarding the streaming
audience) of the non-content segment (ad break) information
contained in the source-14 data flow. The streaming audience will
be completely unaware that there is any difference between what it
is receiving and what audience 18 is receiving. The same will be
true for broadcast audience 18 which will be totally unaware of the
change which has just occurred for streaming audience 16.
As one progresses to the right in FIG. 2 from point 28, what is
here illustrated, from the point of audience separation 30, is an
upper line which now represents the information, and the timings
therefor, being delivered to the broadcast audience, and a lower
line which represents the same set of conditions for the divided
streaming audience.
Thus, and as just described, at the onset of the first ad break
marked at 28 in FIG. 2, the two audiences, 16, 18, become divided,
and the streaming audience and the broadcast audience, in terms of
what they are respectively receiving from station 10, are
asynchronous with regard to one another.
Right after the audience division point marked in FIG. 2, the
broadcast audience is hearing the ad-break content is referred to
herein as non-content segment material, and the streaming audience
is hearing alternative injection content supplied from depository
22. The transitions from content material reception to
differentiation between what then follows differently to the two
audiences, is completely seamless and natural.
In this audience-separation event which has just been described and
illustrated, the reason that the streaming audience immediately
begins to hear injection-content material delivered from repository
22 is that, in the illustration so far given, no content-segment
material from source 14 has yet been buffered by buffer 24.
In the specific illustration now being given, we have made the
assumption that the ad break is one which has an exact duration of
6.5-minutes. In this context, we will assume further that radio
station 10 currently does not have an exactly matching 6.5-minutes
in alternative injection content material, such as appropriately
deliverable (i.e., permissibly streamable) ad material, and
available song material, poised to send to the streaming audience.
This turns out not to be any problem at all. For, as will be seen,
the present invention handily, and elegantly, ignores this
potentially troublesome "time mismatch" situation via implementing
a unique, and highly and flexibly variable, time-shifting process
which offers a remarkably acceptable solution--a solution which
by-passes all concern regarding "precision time alignment".
Explaining the nature of this solution now, and presenting here one
representative example, we will assume, realistically, that station
10 and system 12 are in fact currently "ready" selectively to
deliver a certain, less-than-6.5-minute amount of alternative,
streamable advertising material, and additionally, a small
collection of songs, which can be presented as added together
(i.e., linked in time) collectively to exceed the sum of
6.5-minutes (i.e., the length of the source ad-break time) in order
successfully and seamlessly to bridge the gap between source
content-material segments created by the source ad break.
Continuing, a very specific illustration here might be that station
10 has currently available two 0.5-minute alternative content ads
which, utilizing system 12, it chooses to play out initially and
successively during the source ad break period of time now when
injection content is to be delivered to the streaming audience.
Additionally, station 10 and system 12 also have readily available,
and determine thereafter to make available for use, as needed to
bridge the currently occurring 6.5-minute source ad break, songs
from a collection of songs held in repository 22, such as an
initially chooseable pair of songs including a first, 3.42-minute
song, followed by a second, 3.12-minute song. These four, initially
available, injection-content entities collectively add together to
form a block of streaming injection material having a length of
7.54-minutes--an amount which is entirely adequate to bridge the
time length of the current source ad break.
It is important to note, here, that system 12 does not need to know
in advance the actual length of a non-content break in the source
data flow, because of the fact that block 20 in the system
carefully monitors such a break, noting both its beginning and its
ending. If a particular piece of injection material happens to end
before the monitored and noted end of the relevant triggering
source ad break, system 20 simply continues to draw injection
material as needed from repository 22. Preferably, although not
necessarily, system 12 will know in advance the respective time
lengths of each available piece of injection material. Any suitable
and conventional system control technique may be employed to
accomplish this. Alternatively, system 12 may be suitably
constructed, in an otherwise conventional fashion, to note, on-the
fly, the time ends of such materials.
When, in the illustration now being given, the end the of the first
ad break from source 14 takes place, such end being marked at 32 in
FIG. 2, the second one of the two particular songs mentioned above
is still streaming to audience 16, and has 1-04-minutes to go
before ending. Accordingly, system 12 at this point in time
immediately begins using buffer 24 to collect and buffer the
now-resuming flow of source-14 content-segment material. This
overlap buffering activity is clearly indicated in FIG. 2.
After the elapse of the just mentioned 1.04-minutes, the streaming
audience is effectively "ready" to be "rejoined" to the source
broadcast flow, with such a rejoinder occurring operatively through
buffer 24. Accordingly, continuous time-shift buffering, and
resumed streaming delivery of source content-segment material, now
take place, with content-segment material delivery to audience 16
beginning with the just previously buffered 1.04-minutes of
"overlap" content material. Thus, and as is very clearly indicated
by curved arrows that are presented in FIG. 2, the streaming
audience now, after the end of the last of the two above-mentioned
injection content songs, begins to receive a seamless-continuity
reception of source content segment material.
When the next 6.5-minute non-content ad break occurs in source-14
material as indicated at 34 in FIG. 2, system 12 again employs a
monitor/trigger signal, generated by block 20, to split the
audience in preparation to initiate another bridging injection time
period. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. What will be
observed here, confirmed by the time-calculation math associated
with what is now occurring, is that the end of initial buffered
play out of content material occurs with 5.4-minutes of the second
source ad break still remaining to take place. This 5.4-minutes of
time needs to be bridged.
Station 10 and system 12, for illustration purposes, now play out a
single 0.5-minute alternative advertisement suitable for delivery
to the streaming audience, followed by the successive playing out
of two songs from repository 22. The first of these songs lasts for
2.25-minutes, and the second song lasts for 3.08-minutes.
With this injection behavior under way, and recognizing that the
mentioned single alternative advertisement, and the two following
injection songs, will be played out in their respective entireties
so as to create a seamless experience for the streaming audience,
an end-of-source-ad-break monitor/trigger signal, generated by
system block 20, will occur at 36 in FIG. 2. This signal, of
course, marks the end of the second 6.5-minute non-content add
break coming from source 14. Such a signal, in the illustration now
being given, will occur at point in time which is 2.44-minutes into
the mentioned 3.08-minute injection song, and will mark the
beginning of an "overlap" time period of 0.64-minutes. Accordingly,
via the operation of block 20, system 12 again begins buffering the
then-resumed content segment material coming from source 14.
Once comes the end of the second song that has just been delivered
to the streaming audience in this second-described injection time
period, the streaming audience will once again effectively be
connected, and again through operation of buffer 24, to the
broadcast source to receive a seamless continuation of the main
content segment material, but now with a time delay therein of only
0.64-minutes.
Thus, the streaming audience under all circumstances, with the
operation of system 12, will hear all of the principal content
segment material coming from source 14, and will hear it in proper
order, just as does the broadcast audience, but it will not hear
any of the non-streamable, non-content advertisement material
delivered by source 14.
Accordingly, a unique audience-splitting information-delivery
system and methodology have now been illustrated and described. The
system of the invention--its structure--is plainly set forth in
FIG. 1. The methodology of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
2.
Broadly speaking, and from a structural point of view, the
invention can be described as a system which is operatively
interposable a data-flow source and a selected data-flow recipient
group, operable, through establishing controlled connections and
disconnections between such a source and the recipient group, to
send to the group, over time, only the content-segment portions of
a source data flow which is characterized by alternating, content
and non-content segments, with the times of the non-sending of
non-content-segment material being bridged by the alternative
sending to the group, during and throughout a system-controlled
injection time period, of at least selected injection-content
material which differs from source-delivered non-content
material.
The elements of this system include (a) a repository of
injection-content material, (b) a data buffer operatively
interposed the source and the recipient group, capable of buffering
source content-segment material, and of later delivering such
buffered material to the group, and possessing a continuous
propensity to clear all buffered material, and (c) monitoring
structure operatively connected to the source, to the repository,
and to the buffer, operable to monitor the occurrences of
non-content segment material coming from the source, and to
produce, and to supply to the repository and to the buffer, in
relation to such monitored occurrences, and for each such
occurrence, control signaling which (1) effects/maintains, as
appropriate, a direct disconnection between the source and the
group, (2) the sending to the group, to fill an injection time
period, of a linked combination of any source content-segment
material then held by and deliverable from the buffer, followed by
injection content material drawn from the repository, in a manner
assuring the creation of an injection time period which extends at
least to the conclusion of the most recent non-content segment
occurrence, and (3) invokes buffering by the buffer of any source
content-segment material delivered by the source during the period
between the conclusion of the most recent non-content segment
occurrence and the end of the current injection time period.
The methodology of the invention may be described broadly as being
a method for sending, over time, to a first group of recipients
only the content portions of a continuity source data-flow which
takes the form of ordered, successive, alternating content and
non-content segments, including the steps of (a) in a manner which
utilizes content-segment-material buffering, delivering fully, and
in correct order, to the first recipient group the material in each
content segment, (b) bridging each gap between next-adjacent
content segments at least partially with transmitted injection
material differing from the non-content segment material in the
gap, which injection material ends in time no sooner than the end
of the gap, and (c) employing, as needed, and as a part of the
mentioned full delivering, time-progressive, time-length-variable
buffering, and subsequent, progressive buffer-delivering, of any
content-segment material which overlaps in time with the
transmission of injection material.
In conclusion, while preferred and best mode structural and
methodologic aspects/features of the present invention have been
illustrated and described herein, and certain variation
possibilities suggested, we recognize that other variations and
modifications may be appreciated by those generally skilled in the
relevant art, and may be made without departing from the spirit of
the invention. And, in this context, we intend that all such other
modifications and variations be treated as being fully a part of
the present invention.
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